M26.37 identifies an abnormally increased vertical space between opposing fully erupted teeth when the jaw is at rest — encompassing both excessive intermaxillary vertical dimension and loss of occlusal vertical dimension.
Verified May 8, 2026 · 4 sources ↓
- Status
- Billable
- Chapter
- 13
- Related CPT
- 20
- Region
- Other
Documentation tips
What should appear in the chart to support M26.37.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 4 cited references ↓
- Specify whether the clinical finding is excessive intermaxillary vertical dimension or loss of occlusal vertical dimension — both support M26.37, but naming the exact presentation strengthens medical necessity.
- Record objective measurements: document the resting interocclusal distance and the functional occlusal vertical dimension to distinguish M26.37 from its opposite, M26.36 (insufficient distance).
- Note that all teeth involved are fully erupted — M26.37 does not apply to partially erupted, embedded, or impacted teeth, which fall under K01.-.
- Document contributing etiologies (e.g., generalized tooth wear, prior tooth loss, failed or worn prosthetics) that explain the excessive vertical dimension and demonstrate medical necessity for treatment.
- If concurrent TMJ dysfunction codes (M26.50–M26.56) are also present, list each separately; they are not mutually exclusive with M26.37.
Related CPT procedures
Procedure codes commonly billed with M26.37. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.
Source · CMS LCDs · AAOS specialty guidance · claims-pattern analysis
Common coding pitfalls
The recurring mistakes coders make with M26.37 and adjacent codes.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CDC ICD-10-CM tabular guidance, AAOS coding references, and cited references ↓
- Confusing M26.37 (excessive distance) with M26.36 (insufficient distance) — the two are opposites; always confirm the direction of the anomaly from the clinical note before selecting.
- Applying M26.37 to partially erupted or impacted teeth — the code is restricted to fully erupted teeth; embedded/impacted teeth require K01.- codes, which are Excludes2 at the M26.3 category level.
- Defaulting to the unspecified parent M26.39 when documentation clearly supports M26.37 — M26.37 is the billable specific code and should always be used when the condition is explicitly documented as excessive interocclusal distance.
- Omitting concurrent functional anomaly codes (M26.5x) when both structural and functional TMJ findings are documented — coders sometimes under-code the full clinical picture.
Clinical context
Source · Editorial summary grounded in 4 cited references ↓
M26.37 is used when documentation confirms that fully erupted teeth exhibit an excessive interocclusal distance, meaning the vertical gap between maxillary and mandibular teeth exceeds normal resting parameters. The two canonical clinical presentations captured here are: (1) excessive intermaxillary vertical dimension, where the overall jaw-open rest position is pathologically increased, and (2) loss of occlusal vertical dimension, typically resulting from tooth wear, tooth loss, or failed restorations that have allowed the vertical dimension to collapse and then overcorrect. Both map directly to M26.37 per the Applicable To notes in the FY2026 Tabular List.
This code sits within M26.3 (Anomalies of tooth position of fully erupted tooth or teeth). Its mirror image is M26.36 (Insufficient interocclusal distance of fully erupted teeth), so the distinction in documentation — excessive vs. insufficient — drives the entire code selection. Do not use M26.37 for embedded or impacted teeth; those route to K01.- per the Excludes2 annotation at the M26.3 level.
M26.37 is most often assigned in oral and maxillofacial surgery, prosthodontics, orthodontic, and TMJ-focused practices. In an orthopedic or multi-specialty setting it may appear when TMJ dysfunction or jaw biomechanics intersect with musculoskeletal care. No laterality or 7th-character extension applies to this code.
Inclusion & exclusion notes
Per the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List.
Source · CDC ICD-10-CM Official Tabular List · 2026
Includes
- Excessive intermaxillary vertical dimension of fully erupted teeth
- Loss of occlusal vertical dimension of fully erupted teeth
Sibling codes
Other billable codes under M26.3 (laterality / anatomic variants).
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 4 cited references ↓
01What is the clinical difference between M26.37 and M26.36?
02Does M26.37 require a 7th-character extension?
03Can M26.37 be used for a patient whose vertical dimension loss is caused by a worn denture?
04Is M26.37 appropriate when embedded or impacted teeth are the source of the spacing problem?
05Can M26.37 be coded alongside TMJ dysfunction codes like M26.52 (limited mandibular range of motion)?
06Which specialty providers most commonly assign M26.37?
07Does M26.37 have laterality sub-codes?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.
- 01CDC ICD-10-CM Tabular List 2026 (effective October 1, 2025)
- 02icd10data.comhttps://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes/M00-M99/M26-M27/M26-/M26.37
- 03aapc.comhttps://www.aapc.com/codes/icd-10-codes/M26.37
- 04icd10coded.comhttps://icd10coded.com/cm/M26/
Mira AI Scribe
The Mira AI Scribe captures the measured interocclusal resting distance, the provider's characterization of the finding as excessive (vs. insufficient), eruption status of involved teeth, and any documented etiology such as tooth loss or prosthetic wear. This prevents a drop to the unspecified M26.39, blocks a payer challenge based on vague medical necessity language, and eliminates the risk of miscoding to the clinically opposite M26.36.
See how Mira captures M26.37 documentation